High School Boys Basketball: Middletown holds off Kingston in regular season finale

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. >> Marquis Gill scored 16 of his team-leading 19 points in the fourth quarter Thursday night as Middletown held off Kingston High for a 65-61 victory in the Tigers’ regular season finale.

Kingston finished the regular season 10-9 overall and 2-6 in the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Division I. The Tigers hope to schedule a non-league tuneup game while awaiting the Section 9, Class AA tournament. The seeding meeting is next Thursday.

Gill hit three 3-point field goals and made 3 of 4 foul shots in the final period for the (5-3 OCIAA, 6-12) Middies. Jayden Nichols scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half and Brandan Paul finished with 10 points for Middletown.

The undermanned Tigers suited just eight players. Reid Jordan was out sick. Jasir Hymes, recovering from appendicitis, is out for the season. Tre’Shon Rashada is no longer with the team.

The game was tight throughout with Middletown ahead by five at halftime and up two points heading into the fourth quarter. Kingston had an opportunity to tie with five seconds remaining when Wright was fouled attempting a 3-pointer, but made only one of the three free throws.

“We got a good effort. The theme of the pre-game talk was to compete for four quarters,” Kelder noted.

“It was a loss, but I still went home with a positive feeling. We stepped up last night in a way we haven’t stepped up lately. Overall, the kids gave it all they had.”